Device for erecting monolithic concrete lining of underground excavations



Dec. 29, 1970 v. A. KHoDosH ETAL 3,550,389

- DEVICE FOR ERECTING MONOLITHIC CONCRETE LINING OF UNDERGROUND EXCAVATIONS Filed Feb. 1e, 196s Mms w@ United States Patent O 3,550,389 DEVICE FOR ERECTING MONOLITHIC CON- CRETE LINING OF UNDERGROUND EXCA- VATIONS Vladimir Alexandrovich Khodosh, Ul. Burdenko 16/ 12, kv. 16; Sergei Fedorovich Salov, Ul. Akademika Koroleva 9, korpus 2, kv. 284; Valentin Alexandrovich Ivanov, Ul. Konstantinova 4, kv. 25; and Evstafy Andreevicll Vasilenko, Rizhsky proezd 1/5, kv. 50, all of Moscow, U.S.S.R.; Budu Pavlovich Pacllulia, Ul. Pavlova 8a, kv. 4; and Abesalom Iosifovich Kurashvili, Ul. Pavlova 4, kv. 23, both of Tbiksi, U.S.S.R.; Evgeny Moiseevich Bolotin, Otkrytoe shosse 24, korpus 25, kv. 12; and Leonid Konstantinovich Khaidurov, Otkrytoe shosse 24, korpus g, kv. 31, both of Moscow, U.S.S.R.; and Irakly Shalvovch Machavariani, Ul. Pavlova 4, kv. 26, Tbiliski, U.S.S.R.

Filed Feb. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 706,065 Claims priority, application U.S.S.R., Feb. 20, 1967, 1,134,238 Int. Cl. Etllg 5/16; E21d 11/10 U.S. Cl. 61-84 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Shield-tunneling apparatus is provided with a first pressing ring adapted for compressing concrete admitted therebehind in an excavation, the pressing ring being connected by jacks to a second ring disposed ahead of the first ring and provided with radial gaps in which wedges are engaged for being radially displaced to expand and contract the second ring for engaging and disengaging the walls of the excavation. When the second ring is tightly engaged in the excavation, the jacks can be extended to cause the pressing ring to compress the concrete therebehind.

The present invention relates to the erecting of monolithic concrete linings of underground excavations in stable soils, and more particularly to devices for erecting such linings.

Until now monolithic concrete linings of tunnels have been erected in the course of shield-tunneling by way of pressing concrete mix by means of a pressing ring with the employment of reactive forces exerted by shield jacks.

A disadvantage of this method of erecting linings lies in that both the pressing uniformity of the concrete mix upsetting and the tightness of the lining depend on the frontal resistance encountered by the shield.

When shield-tunneling in stable rocky soils, concrete mix is pressed with the shield remaining stationary as under such conditions the shield cannot penetrate into the face, and for further advance preliminary formation of an excavation is required.

Such methods considerably reduce the speed of tunneling due to subsequent working out of a face and erection of a lining. Besides, mechanized shields cannot house additional jack which would develop reactive forces sufficient for obtaining a monolithic pressed concrete lining of a required tightness.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate disadvantages which take place when erecting in stable rocky soils monolithic pressed linings in the course of shieldtunneling.

The main object of the invention is to provide a separate device which makes it possible to erect a monolithic pressed concrete lining of underground excavations independently of the shield.

This object is accomplished, in accordance with the invention by the provision in the device having a ring for pressing concrete mix, another ring provided with thrust arrangements for fastening the latter in the walls of an rice excavation, and used as a support for jacks. The ring used as a support for jacks whose force is utilized for pressing concrete mix, is split and wherein every split houses a wedge thrust arrangement for pushing the ring apart until it rests against the walls of an excavation. To be moved along the excavation in the direction of the lining erection, the rings are interconnected by additional jacks displacing, when thrusting against the pressing ring, the support ring and pulling the pressing ring towards the support ring after the latter has been fastened in the excavation walls. 1

The following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention is given with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l shows a longitudinal section view of a device for erecting monolithic concrete lining of a tunnel, built in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG, 2 is a section on the line II--II of FIG. 1.

The device comprises a ring 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) fastened in the walls of an excavation by means of wedge thrust arrangements 2; a ring 3 (FIG. 1) by which concrete mix is pressed (hereinafter referred to as a pressing ring) and hydraulic jacks 4 whose force is used for pressing against ring 3 and thereby compressing the concrete mix. The hydraulic jacks 4 are mounted in the ring 1 used as a support thereof and for simplicity ring 1 will hereinafter be referred to as a support ring, said ring being split to provide radial gaps or separations.

The wedge thrust arrangements 2 (FIGS. 2) are disposed in each split of the support ring 1 and urge the latter apart until it rests against the walls the walls of excavation.

When operating, the hydraulic jacks 4 (FIG. l) thrust against the pressing ring 3, thus providing for pressing of the concrete mix therebehind. Mounted between rods S of the hydraulic jacks 4 and the pressing ring 3 are thrust rollers 6 which contact the ring 3 and rods 5 along a rolling surface which eliminates possible bending of the rods 5 as may occur in case the support ring 1 and the pressing ring 3 become warped with respect to each other.

The support ring 1 and the pressing ring 3 are interconnected by means of additional jacks 7 by means of which said rings are free to be moved forward as the lining is being erected.

The support ring 1 and the pressing ring 3 may be of any shape depending on the cross-section of the underground excavation.

A monolithic concrete lining is erected by means of the device in the following sequence of operations:

The support ring 1 (FIGS. l and 2) is fastened in the walls of an excavation by means of the wedge thrust arrangements 2 (FIG. 2) pushing the ring 1 apart until it rests against the walls of the excavation; concrete mix 10 used as the lining material is supplied through an opening 9 in the pressing ring 3 into the space behind a form 8 (FIG. 1) the hydraulic jacks 4 are actuated so that their rods 5 rest via the thrust rollers 6 against the pressing ring 3, as a result of which the concrete mix 10 is compressed.

After pressing, the operation on the concrete mix is completed and the thrust forces in the ring 1 are removed, the additional jacks 7 are then actuated, which, by resting against the pressing ring 3, cause the support ring 1 to move forward. Once the wedge thrust arrangements 2 have been inserted into the gaps in ring 1, after it has assumed its new position, the ring 1 is expanded until it rests against the walls of excavation, the additional jacks 7 then being reversed to pull the pressing ring 3 towards the support ring il, whereupon the whole cycle is repeated.

As seen in FIG. 2, the wedge arrangement comprises a wedge-shape member 12 inserted in side wedges 11 and pivotably connected to the center of a lever 14 in turn pivotably connected at its ends at 15 to the side wedges 11 at opposite sides of a gap. One side wedge is secured to ring 1 the other pivotably connected at 16 thereto. The wedge-shape member 12 can be displaced deeper into the gap or withdrawn therefrom to expand or contract ring 1 and therefore tightly engage the ring in the excavation or loosen the same therein.

The movement of wedge-shape members 12 to expand or contract ring 1 is effected in any conventional manner, and in the embodiment shown, the wedge-shape member 12 is displaceable on a stem 13 fitted therein, by introducing a pressure uid within the member 12 and acting thereon and the stem.

As seen in FIG. 2, the wedge arrangement comprises a wedge-shape member 20 which is pivotably connected to the center of a lever 21 in turn pivotably connected at its ends to the ring 1 at opposite sides of a split. The wedge-shape member 20 can be displaced deeper into the split or Withdrawn therefrom to expand or contract ring 1 and therefore tightly engage the ring in the excavation or loosen the same therein.

The movement of wedge-shape members 20 to expand or contract ring 1 is effected in any conventional manner, and in the embodiment shown, the wedge-shape member 20 is displaceable on a stem 22 fitted therein, by introducing a pressure uid within the member 20 and acting thereon and the stem.

What is claimed is:

1. Tunnel construction apparatus comprising a pressing ring for compressing concrete admitted therebehind in an excavation, a second ring disposed ahead of the first said ring, said second ring being expandable and contractable, means for expanding the second ring so that the ring tightly engages the walls of said excavation, and jacks coupling the first and second rings to exert force on the first ring to compress the concrete when the second ring is tightly engaged in the excavation, the second ring then serving as a countersupport for said jacks, said means also being operable to contract the second ring for disengaging the Walls of the excavation to permit advance of the second ring within the excavation, said second ring being split to provide at least one radial gap therein which opens and closes when the ring is respectively expanded and contracted, said means comprising a wedge arrangement supported in each said gap for relative displacement therein to expand and contract said second ring.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second ring is split to provide at least one radial gap therein r which opens and closes when the ring is respectively expanded and contracted, said means comprising a wedge arrangement supported in each said gap for relative displacement therein to expand and contract said second ring.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising additional jacks connected to said rings to displace the rst ring towards the second ring with the latter tightly engaged in said excavation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,919,121 12/1959 Ruth 299-33X FOREIGN PATENTS 597,063 5/1934 Germany 61-85 OTHER REFERENCES German printed application, No. 1,206,938, December 1965, Hochtief, et al.

JACOB SHAPIRO, Primary Examiner 

